Mohegans renew ties with Norwich school

Mohegan Tribal Chief Lynn Malerba embraces Uncas School students Emily Manikas, right, and Jayden Burns as the pair present her with a sign featuring the school's new logo during a ceremony Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, to re-dedicate a marble mark carved for the school by past chief Ralph Sturges.Sean D. Elliot/The DayBuy Photo

Mohegan Tribal Chief Lynn Malerba embraced Uncas School students Emily Manikas and Jayden Burns as the pair presented her with a sign featuring the school's new logo during a ceremony Friday to rededicate a marble mark carved for the school by past chief Ralph Sturges.

The school's chorus and the Chamber Singers from Norwich Free Academy sang and Chief Malerba was presented with a gift from the school. Uncas Principal Jason Foster invited Malerba and the tribe to rededicate the plaque, donated by the tribe in the late 1990's to signify a symbolic bond between the tribe and the school bearing the name of their great Sachem Uncas which Foster had moved this year to make room for a new athletic-themed sign over the gymnasium door where the plaque once hung.

Brooke McClelland, a member of the Norwich Free Academy Chamber Singers, stands for the national anthem sung by the Uncas School Chorus as students and staff at Uncas Elementary School in Norwich are joined by Mohegan Tribal Chief Lynn Malerba and members of the tribe's Council of Elders for a ceremony Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, to re-dedicate a marble mark carved for the school by past Chief Ralph Sturges.Sean D. Elliot/The DayBuy Photo